User profile for user: SCW-Greg
SCW-Greg Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

How much can 8GB hold?

Well I bought the iPhone on the first weekend, found out it wouldn't activate or work with my Vista 64bit OS (came installed with my HP laptop), so I took the phone back for a full refund (thanks Apple - no restocking fee).

So while I'm waiting for the fix for us 64bit OS users, I've created two playlists for the iPhone - one being music videos (1.24GB), and the other just a standard music playlist (5.89GB), for a combined total of 7.13GB.

So if I then add in my contacts from Outlook 2007 there are 326 full entries. Not sure how much memory this takes, but can't be too much, since it's just text.

I'm wondering if all of this will fit in the 8GB phone, or if I should start pairing down my playlist now. And I haven't even thought about images for that matter.

Of course I'm hoping for the fix for this soon, so I can go back out and buy (and activate) the iPhone. I also suspect that come October there will be a 16GB version available too - that would be nice.

What has been the memory experience of other out there? And does album art take up more memory than what iTunes shows in the playlist?

HP Pavilion Laptop DV9500t, Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz (Santa Rosa chipset), 4GB, Windows Vista, Ultimate 64bit

Posted on Jul 18, 2007 7:40 AM

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19 replies
User profile for user: PTBoater
PTBoater
User level: Level 4
2,857 points

Jul 18, 2007 7:45 AM in response to SCW-Greg

The 8GB iPhone has 7.24GB of available space. Contacts doesnt take up that much. Based on the numbers you posted, your should come in right under the wire. iTunes will let you know if that wont work before you sync.

I read a fix for installing iTunes on Vista 64 somewhere - I think it had something to do with the hard drive location the Quicktime installation procedure puts the Quicktime files, and its somewhere different from where iTunes expect it. Let me see if I can find that post...

EDIT: Ahhh, here it is

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4965243&#4965243

You can install iTunes, but apparently no dice on a 64-bit iPhone driver. Sorry.
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User profile for user: Iphoney
Iphoney
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jul 18, 2007 8:44 AM in response to SCW-Greg

I'm not entirely keen on a company like Apple using memory advertised as storage space for their own operating system. I realize that in the world of computers this is the status quo however when I purchase an 8 gig music player I expect it to have 8 gigs (or slightly less formated) of space for whatever I want to put in it.

The operating system should have been on a seperate flash chip or there should have been provisions made to increase memory enough to include the operating system while still offering a usable 8 gigs.
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User profile for user: Kyn Drake
Kyn Drake
User level: Level 7
21,597 points

Jul 18, 2007 9:12 AM in response to Iphoney

It was the same way on my Blackberry. The problem is if you want an upgradeable system, you're going to have to deal with the possibility that the OS may expand past what you thought would be sufficient when it was designed (512 MB for example).

If you want a MUSIC player, then any of the iPods or other devices might be more what you're looking for.
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User profile for user: SCW-Greg
SCW-Greg Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jul 18, 2007 9:44 AM in response to Kyn Drake

And what would be the problem with that (expanding OS)?

While it's industry standard practice for PDAs to share the total RAM with OS and User data, I don't mind so long as the manufacture makes it clear what the net usable area is. To minimize missleading advertising.

I would think if Apple would really want ubiquitous adoption of the iPhone (besides software enhancements), merely allowing for swappable batteries and a slot for additional memory would do wonders. Heck they could even manufacture their own chipset and make that a profit item as well - selling 8, 16 and perhaps even 32GB sticks (for the ultimate beanie head).
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User profile for user: Iphoney
Iphoney
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jul 18, 2007 10:10 AM in response to Kyn Drake

I figured that they did it for this reason but really, how inexpensive would it have been to toss 1 - 1.5gb more memory in the device for the operating system and other upgrades? I would bet that with their buying power you would be talking a minimal difference.

As it sits the device does not include the 8gb it's advertised as having. It has 7.23gb. I'd like to see Apple advertise it as the 7.23gb Iphone.

I'm not an Apple hater, quite the contrary. I love the company and where it's gone in recent years but this was a poor marketing move.

Apple set the precedent with the Ipod. A 4gig Ipod had 4 gigs to use as the 60 gig had 60 to use (slightly less formatted of course). As such, an Ipod owner, which probably 80 - 90% of the phone buyers are, would have been expecting a phone with 4 gigs and 8 gigs respectively. 750megs of OS is ~20% of the 4 gig phone's capacity.

If this is the worst we've got to worry about we're in good shape. Maybe I'm splitting hairs here.
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User profile for user: AppleLuver201
AppleLuver201
User level: Level 1
20 points

Jul 18, 2007 10:33 AM in response to SCW-Greg

guys, they had to pack their operating system onto that tiny thing, using the same "morals" that they used with iPods: put the advertised space in there, and then format it. They did the same with the iPhone. as much as i would love to have the full 8 GB, with the OS etc. on another chip, i think that the iPhone is physically big enough as it is. WE don't need extra space used by another chip. They packed this thing to the brim.
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User profile for user: Kyn Drake
Kyn Drake
User level: Level 7
21,597 points

Jul 18, 2007 10:54 AM in response to SCW-Greg

"I would think if Apple would really want ubiquitous adoption of the iPhone (besides software enhancements), merely allowing for swappable batteries and a slot for additional memory would do wonders."

There are already many phones out there with EXACTLY these things you state, and they're not ubiquitous. The FEATURES may be ubiquitous, but each individual model is a small sliver of the entire pie. The KEY is that a small sliver is still a LOT of money, so "ubiquitous adoption" isn't required for Apple to sell millions AND make a profit.
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User profile for user: SCW-Greg
SCW-Greg Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jul 18, 2007 11:17 AM in response to Kyn Drake

It's not about whether Apple is profitable with how little they sell, because they will be. It's about (with what I presume to be fairly simple) making the iPhone even more flexible and appeal to an even larger audience, while more specifically addressing the needs of those who already have one (or those in it's core demographic)... and make even more profit. It's about making a great product even better.

Then on the other hand, you don't sell 100 million iPods without building in some obsolescence.
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How much can 8GB hold?

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